Picnic table and the like



Nov. 8, 1955 H. M. GALLAGHER ET AL PICNIC TABLE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 8, 1955 Filed Oct. 12, 1954 H. M. GALLAGHER ET AL PICNIC TABLE AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,722,971 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 lagher, doing business as Consolidated Metal Products Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Application October 12', 1954, Serial No. 461,797

10 Claims. (Cl. 155-124) This invention relates to a picnic table and the like which is readily and: conveniently storable in relatively flat condition. While we have entitled the device a picnic table, it is to' be understood that it can be used indoors as a dinette table, or as. a patio table.

The conventional table known as a picnic table is built upon A-frames with the two benches secured to a. portion of the frame such. that in order to sit down at the table, it is necessary to climb over thebench. This is a great inconvenience, particularly when the table is used by ladies. Furthermore, in order that such tables be sufiiciently rigid, the framework is of very heavy construction and it is very ditficult to move such tables from one location to another. They cannot be stored but must be left out-of-doors all winter.

With theforegoing considerations in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a table which will be thoroughly rigid but which can be disassembled and folded up so that it may be stored in a relatively small space. It is another object of the invention to provide a table which can be made in various sizes and which, size for size, is very much lighter than the conventional picnic type of table so that it can be readily moved about to take advantage of shade desired- These and various other objects of the invention which will become apparent as the description proceeds or which will be pointed out in greater detail hereinafter, we accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which we shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part here of and in which:

Figure l is a general perspective view of the device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the same showing in broken lines how thebench elements and tableto element are disassembled.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the tabletop element. 1

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the underside of a bench element.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view on a similarly enlarged scale taken on the lines 77 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on a similarly enlarged scale taken on the line 88 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on a similarly enlarged scale taken on the line 99 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a brace member.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a modified brace member.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the framework showing, in broken lines, how the framework is folded up for storage; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a modified table,

Briefly, in the practice of the invention, we provide a structure comprising a tabletop element, two bench elements and a framework. In general, the framework comprises two tubular pedestal elements, one adjacent each end of the table, and two pairs of generally J-shaped floor-engaging and bench-supporting members which are telescopingly engaged in the said pedestal members in back-to-back relationship. Means are provided for removably securing the bench elements to the bench supporting elements and for securing the top element to the two pedestal elements. When the two bench elements and the top element are removed from the framework, the framework folds up, as will be described here: inafter.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the tabletop element is indicated generally at 10 and the bench elements at 11'. These will preferably be of wood and may desirably be of redwood, which may be finished as desired, although we prefer that it be unfinished except for waxing. The pedestal elements hereinabove referred to are indicated at 12 and the J-shaped elements, of which there are four, are indicated generally at 13.

The boards which comprise the top element 10 may be secured together by means of the transverse boards 14 as is well known, and to the boards 14, which are adjacent the two ends of the top element 10, there are secured the stirrup members 15. For securing the tabletop member 10 to the pedestal members 12, we provide four L-shaped members 16, which are preferably made of metallic tubing such as aluminum tubing. One limb of each of the members 16 is inserted into one of the stirrups 15 and the other limbs of each pair of the members 16 are disposed back-to-back and parallel, as seen in Figures 2 and 4. The respective pairs of members 16 are preferably not fastened together, although they may be fastened together after they are inserted in the stirrups 15 if desired. If the members 16 are. not fastened together, it is possible to remove them from the stirrups for storage if desired. If it is not desired to remove them, they may simply be folded against the top member 10, as seen in broken lines in Figure 4. The free limbs of the members 16 serve for attachment of the top member 10 to the pedestals 12 as will be described hereinafter.

The members 12 are tubular and of a cross-section best seen in Figures 6 and 7. They can readily be made from ordinary tubing by deforming it by means of dies. The configuration of the pedestal 12 is such that the limbs 16 in juxtaposition may be telescoped thereinto. In order to clamp the members 16 into the pedestal members 12, a clamping arrangement may be provided as desired, as best seen in Figure 6. A bolt 17 having a wedge-shaped head 18 passes through the pedestal 12 and can be tightened by means of a Wing nut 19. By tightening the wing nut 19', the head 18 is caused to wedge between the two limbs 16 to clamp them to the pedestal. When it is desired to remove the top member, the wing nut 19 is simply loosened and the top may then be lifted off the frame. It will be understood that the clamping structure of Fig ure- 6 may be omitted if desired but if' it is omitted, the table cannot be moved from place to place by lifting at the top. 1

The members 13 are generally J-shaped, having a longer vertical limb 20, a horizontal ground or floor engaging limb 21, a shorter vertical limb 22, and a returned-bent bench supporting limb 23. They may, if desired, incorporate a strut member 24, as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 12, and for smaller tables the strut members 24 may be omitted, as seen in Figure 13. The longer vertical limbs 20 are disposed back-to-back and telescoped into the pedestal elements 12, as best seen in Figure 7. In order to brace the structure, a brace, such as shown in Figure 10 and indicated at 25, may be utilized. Such brace member is also of metallic tubing having a fiat portion 26 provided with a slot 27 and having the flattened ends 28 which are provided with the holes 29. The fiattened portions 23 are secured to the pedestals by means of the bolt 30 (Figure 7) and wing nut 31. The fiat portion 2% bears against the underside of the table and, as best seen in Figure 4, the central transverse board 14 is provided with the threaded stud 32 which engages the slot 27. A wing nut 33 clamps the brace to the table, as best seen in Fig. 9. As seen in Figure 11, the holes 29 may be replaced by slots 29:: if desired.

The bench elements 11 are provided on their underside, as best seen in Figure 5, with the stirrups 34 and a threaded stud 35. The stirrups 34 engage the returnedbent limbs 23 of the members 13, as best seen in Fig ure 2. A brace member 25a, which may in all respects be like the member 25 of Figure 10, braces the bench members 11, as best seen in Figure 3. The flats 28a are secured to the struts 24 by wing nuts as shown and to the underside of the bench by means of the stud 35 and a wing nut. it will be understood that with small tables where the bench span is not great, the struts 25a may be omitted, as seen in the table of Figure 13.

As illustrated in Figure 3, a standard framework comprising pedestals 12, members 13 and braces 25 and 25a may serve for tables of various lengths. The broken lines of Figure 3 indicate that a greater or smaller amount of overhang may be provided as desired.

When it is desired to disassemble a table for storage, the top member 10 is lifted out, as shown in Figure 2 in broken lines. If the clamping arrangement of Figure 6 has been provided it will be understood that the wing nuts 19 must first be loosened. The member 16 may then be folded down against the top as shown in broken lines in Figure 4 or, if desired, they may be individually removed. Referring now to Figure 12, the brace member 25 is rotated to the downwardly depending position, as shown in broken lines, by loosening the wing nuts 31. The members 13 are then folded inward to their broken line positions and it will be seen that the entire framework has been folded into a substantially flat configuration so that the entire table may be stored in a space no longer and no higher than the length and width of the top element and not greatly thicker than the thickness of the top element.

The advantages of this construction will be fully appreciated from the preceding description. It will be understood that various minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and we,

therefore, do not intend to limit ourselves otherwise than as set forth in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a picnic table and the like, a tabletop member, two bench members, and a supporting framework therefor, said supporting framework comprising at each end a tubular pedestal element and a pair of mutually pposed, generally J-shaped floor engaging and bench supporting members telescopingly engaging in baek-to-back relation in said pedestal element, said tabletop member having means telescopingly engaging in the upper ends of said tubular pedestal elements, and means removably securing said bench members to said bench supporting members.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said J-shaped members are of metallic tubing.

3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein pairs of stirrups are secured to the underside of said tabletop member, and wherein said tabletop member is connected to said framework by pairs of L-shaped elements having one limb of each element engaged in one of said stirrups and the other pair of limbs of each pair of elements telescopingly engaged in each of said pedestal elements.

4. A structure according to claim 3, wherein means are provided on each of said pedestals for clamping the respective pairs of limbs of said L-shaped elements to the pedestals.

5. A structure according to claim 1, wherein stirrups are provided on the underside of each of said bench members, said stirrups telescopingly engaging said bench supporting members.

6. A structure according to claim 1, wherein an inverted V-brace is provided, said brace being secured at each end to one of said pedestals, and at its apex to the underside of said tabletop member.

7. A structure according to claim 6, wherein said brace is secured to said pedestals at a distance above the ground at least as great as the vertical height of said brace, whereby said brace may be pivoted with respect to said pedestals for storage purposes.

8. A structure according to claim 1, wherein vertical struts are provided between the floor engaging and bench supporting portions of said J-shaped members, and wherein an inverted V-brace is provided for each bench, each brace being secured at each end to one of said vertical struts, and at its apex to the underside of one of said benches.

9. A structure according to claim 8, wherein an additional inverted V-brace is provided, said last named brace being secured at each end to one of said pedestals, and at its apex to the underside of said tabletop member.

10. In a picnic table and the like, a tabletop member, two bench members, and a supporting framework therefor, said supporting framework comprising at each end a tubular pedestal element and a pair of mutually opposed, generally J-shaped fioor engaging and bench sup porting members, said J-shaped members each having a longer vertical limb, a horizontal floor engaging limb, and a shorter vertical limb terminating in a returned-bent horizontal bench engaging limb, pairs of said J-Shaped members being disposed with said longer vertical limbs in juxtaposition, and engaging in said tubular pedestal elements, said tabletop member having means engaged in the upper ends of said tubular pedestal elements, and means removably securing said bench members to said returned-bent horizontal limbs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

